Toddler Dancing

Updated: February 27, 2015

Gabi Bucataru/Stocksy

Find out when's the right time to turn up the tunes and get your tiny dancer to twist and shout.

All children are naturally attuned to sound and rhythm (one reason why mobiles are so soothing to infants), and for months now, your little one has probably responded to music by smiling, swaying, and perhaps even clapping her hands. But once your wee one's walking on her own two feet, she’ll finally have enough control over her body to do some toddler dancing.

Now, don’t expect her moves to match Madonna’s fancy footwork just yet. At around 14 months, your dancing queen may make her first foray into toddler dancing by bobbing up and down, with her feet planted on the floor, whenever she hears a jazzy tune or just your own singing voice. Between 17 and 18 months, your pint-sized performer may start trying out some more complicated choreography, including moving from side to side and turning in circles. As she gets more coordinated around age two, her arms will get more involved in the act.

There’s good reason to encourage toddler dancing: Simply listening to music helps toddlers think and express themselves more creatively, a skill that’s sure to help your little one later in school. Plus, getting their groove on by dancing improves toddlers’ coordination and sense of how their bodies fit into their surroundings. And toddler dancing helps set the stage for an active childhood filled with all types of movement.

How to get started? Toddlers respond best to music when they actively experience it. Passive listening (like in the car) is fine, but take advantage of opportunities to get your child bouncing, marching, and tapping to the beat (though she might not be able to make some of those moves until she’s a full-fledged two-year-old). No need to invest in a surround-sound system: All that’s required for toddler dancing is a terrific tune and space to wiggle. No iPod or CD player? No problem. Just make your own music with your voice (off-key is totally fine) and your clapping hands.

And don’t forget: Toddlers love a dance partner, so go ahead and join the fun. Some cool mom moves are the best form of encouragement to get your hip-hopper up and bopping.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect the Second Year. Health information on this site is based on peer-reviewed medical journals and highly respected health organizations and institutions including ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), as well as the What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.